Scottish Parliament

Written Answers

Friday 13 August 1999

Scottish Executive

Children

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had contact or intends to have contact with the International Children’s Parliament.

Mr Sam Galbraith: Baroness Smith of Gilmorehill, who is Patron of the Parliament, has written to me and other Ministerial colleagues about their activities and plans. Officials have met representatives of the Parliament and are maintaining contact.

Drugs

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-488 by Angus MacKay on 22 July 1999, what is the full timescale for the consultation process regarding proposals for taking forward the Drugs Enforcement Agency concept, and what are all the organisations who will participate within it.

Angus MacKay: Consultation involving the key enforcement agencies is continuing. When a programme for setting up the Drug Enforcement Agency has been agreed, an announcement will be made. It is intended to make this before the end of the year. The agencies involved in the discussions are the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, the Scottish Crime Squad, the National Criminal Intelligence Service, the Scottish Criminal Record Office and the Crown Office.

Education

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the future of the Glasgow Careers service.

Henry McLeish: The existing contract between the First Minister and Glasgow Careers Service Company expires on 31 March 2000. The company will be asked to re-contract and it is expected that the contract documentation will issue towards the end of September. Providing Glasgow Careers Service Company are able to meet the contract conditions the new contract will take effect from 1 April 2000 and will last for a period of 5 years.

Planning

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take when dealing with new open cast planning applications from companies which have been in breach of planning regulations and/or health and safety regulations with regard to their existing mining operations.

Sarah Boyack: As with all planning applications, each case must be judged on its merits. The publication of a tougher planning policy guidance framework for opencast coal on 31 March 1999 should ensure that applications are subjected to greater scrutiny. Developers will be expected to match the higher standards that are now expected so that greater protection can be given to communities and the environment. Where consent is granted, arrangements should be put in place to ensure development is carried out in accordance with the planning permission and various other control regimes. These are matters for the planning authority and the other control authorities such as the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the Health and Safety Executive and other local authority departments. The relevant body should respond to breaches with speedy and robust action.

Post Office

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty’s Government regarding the impact which the Department of

  Social Security’s decision to pay benefits by automated credit transfer from 2003 will have on the viability of many sub Post Offices in Scotland, particularly in rural areas.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government across a range of issues, including those relating to the Post Office.

Tourism

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Tourist Board has conducted research into whether there are any countries where there is in their national curricula inclusion of Scotland or Scottish history, whether it markets Scotland as a tourist destination in such countries, and if so, in which countries and what amount is spent.

Henry McLeish: I will ask the Chairman of the Scottish Tourist Board to write to you and I will arrange for a copy of his reply to be placed in the Parliament’s Library.

Tourism

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Tourist Board will make use of the coverage of the Parliament, and in particular the opening ceremony, as a means of promoting Scotland.

Henry McLeish: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Tourist Board. I will ask the Chairman to write to you and I will arrange for a copy of his reply to be placed in the Parliament’s Library.

Tourism

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it intends to give to the funding of area tourist boards, and whether it intends to increase the funding available for the present financial year and subsequent financial years and, if so, to specify the amount of the proposed increase.

Henry McLeish: Area Tourist Boards are local partnership organisations supported by the Scottish Tourist Board. They are core funded by the STB, by local authorities and by their own income. It is for the Scottish Tourist Board to determine the level of grant it provides to ATBs. In the current financial year, this totals around £3.5 million. I am seeking views as to whether any change should be made in the way ATBs are funded.

Whisky

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it intends to take to assist the Scotch whisky industry.

Henry McLeish: Recognising the importance of this industry to Scotland, I shall soon be meeting representatives from the Scotch Whisky industry to hear at first hand about their prospects and concerns. I shall be glad to give whatever assistance I can.

Whisky

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make representations to Her Majesty’s Government with regard to the rate of excise duty applicable to spirits.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive recognises the importance of the spirits industry in Scotland and will do all that it can to further the interests of this industry. The Scottish Executive will make appropriate representations at the relevant time to the UK Government on issues that impact on the industry.